We all know that ZogSports lets you keep playing all your favorite sports you grew up playing, allows you to try something new, expands your social network, and gives you something to look forward to every week. But did you know that ZogSports is actually healthy for you? Mentally, physically and socially? Expert psychotherapist, Alyson Cohen, LCSW, explains why:

Get in the Game: Mind, Body, and Sport (Your Social Skills)

Have you ever thought about joining a social sports league in New York City? Well, you should. My clients are always looking for ways to make friends in Manhattan, build their professional networks, and find time to stay in shape. Joining a social sports league is a great way to strengthen your mental, physical, and social well-being.

Here are some key reasons why:

1- Physical activity reduces depression. It will physically make you feel happier. Exerting your body to get your blood flowing directly causes serotonin levels in your body to increase. Serotonin is the “feel good” neurotransmitter (brain signal) that when released, gives you feelings of carefree lightheartedness. This is the same effect as antidepressant medications, but you can get it without those pills! In addition to releasing serotonin, having a planned sports activity will give you more motivation to leave your home, thus reducing isolation and forcing you to flex your social muscles.

2- You will improve your physical health. Let’s face it, you’re not as young as you used to be. And when you’re a kid it’s easy to stay fit; you have recess, gym class, and energy levels that keep you bouncing off the walls. Now you’re an adult. You work in an office; you need a change of pace – literally. Step. It. Up. Joining a social sports league will give you the encouragement and boost needed to add fitness to your life. It’s got potential to be way more fun than a gym and with all the distraction of your new friends, you’ll hardly realize you’re burning calories. Lifting weights and running on a treadmill isn’t for everyone, but throwing balls at each other and running bases has definitely been fun for you at some point in time. Your inner kid is still in there and will give you all the energy you need once you find something fun to do!

3- You will make friends and build your social skills. So maybe you are new to the city and you literally know nobody. You’re not alone. Thousands of other people have just moved here too and they’re probably going to join some sort of activity to make friends. And it’s okay and a totally normal thing to do in a city as big as New York. The best part about meeting people through a social sports league is they want to be your friend! They want to hang out with you, get to know you, and have fun. It’s a win-win (even if your team continually loses). If you’re an introvert and have trouble talking to strangers, you don’t have to! Just focus on your game play until you’re ready to take that next step. Chances are that it’s only social anxiety holding you back but once you have upped your body’s blood flow, you’ll likely feel more at ease and better able to interact with your teammates.

4- Your professional network will expand. Lucky for you, the other members of your team are not professional athletes, however they are professional somethings. And maybe they work in an industry that could directly benefit your career (another win-win). Networking in New York City can be costly, time-consuming, and just flat out boring. Networking through a social sports league keeps interactions laid back, genuine and could promote a higher quality relationship. The more diverse networking avenues you pursue, the more diverse professionals you will meet. It’s a simple formula and you will find it’s very possible to have fun and network at the same time!

5- Your self-esteem will improve. Participating in an activity that you enjoy will make you feel good about yourself. Even if you were the last kid to be picked on the team in gym class, now’s your chance for redemption. Generally, the level of play in social sports leagues is pretty non-competitive. Knowing that you took the big step of putting yourself out there, trying to meet new people, and putting effort into a new activity will make you feel proud of yourself. And you should be.

If you’re feeling like you could use a boost mentally, physically, socially and professionally, why not give joining a social sports league a try? The only thing you’ve got to lose is depression, weight, social anxiety, and job isolation.

Let ZogSports ease your mind and help kick-start your healthy living lifestyle. Use these quick tips to calm any nerves and find the right fit for you:

If you’re looking to make friends, don’t be afraid to sign up alone. Most people who join ZogSports sign up as a free agent their first season and also want to make friends. Zog places free agents on the same team, with other people of a similar skill level. If you want to sign up with just a few friends, you can do that too, and Zog guarantees you will be placed on the same team.

If you’re joining to expand your professional network, explore ZogSports’ corporate offerings. From corporate-only leagues to corporate events including field days and team building activities, you’ll find the perfect outlet for networking and improving employee engagement and company culture.

Afraid the competition will be too stiff? ZogSports offers multiple competition levels for each league, so whether you’ve played your whole life or never played before, you’ll fit right in.

If you have any questions about ZogSports, feel free to email us at info@ZogSports.com or call us at (646) GO PLAY-8. Our dedicated full time staff is always easy to reach and happy to help!